The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Fervour not eclipsed by ‘grahanam’

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Sunday, Aug 17, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Fervour not eclipsed by ‘grahanam’

Special Correspondent

GUNTUR: Festive mood prevailed in the city on Saturday with sisters tying rakhis to the wrists of their brothers and people making a beeline for temples to get a new set of sacred thread. At the temples people also had darshan prior to closure for lunar eclipse, beginning at 1.06 a.m. (past midnight) to 4.15 am. (IST).

In areas inhabited by north Indians, in Brodipet and Old Guntur, celebration mood was high with girls and women dressed in their best, going to their brothers’ houses, or vice versa, bearing gifts. Shops were open early to facilitate purchase of rakhis in several main commercial areas. A team of Brahmakumaris Samsthan members went to the District Jail in Brodipet and tied rakhis to all the inmates after applying vermilion and distributing sweets. Rakhis were tied to women inmates also. Some women employees tied rakhis to their superiors. Gift shops made good business on Friday and Saturday selling rakhis and innovative gifts . While cell phones were the choice of many, gold ornaments was the next best choice with gold prices coming down slightly.

Chandra grahanam had several people fasting from 3 p.m. Mass chanting of Vishnu Sahasranamam started at several temples.

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